Page 42 of While You Sleep

The older man’s gaze slid back to Cillian and he flushed red. “Careful, boy.”

“Not your boy, old man. Best you remember who the fuck you’re speaking to,” Cillian said, his hard gaze locked on the other man.

Vince took a step back. “I meant no offense.” His glanced at me again. “Your wife’s very beautiful. I was paying her a compliment—”

“Don’t look at her,” Cillian said. “Don’t talk to her, don’t think about her. I don’t give a fuck that you’re Alto’s family. I will slit your throat without a single thought, understand?”

I pushed deeper into Cillian, wanting to be anywhere but there. I knew with every part of me that he’d never let this man hurt me, but I felt the controlled violence coming off him. He was showing none of it outwardly, but his body was rock solid against mine, like he’d fly apart at any moment. He was braced, ready to do exactly what he just said. No, he wanted to do it. I didn’t doubt that he’d kill Vince right here and now in front of all these people.

That would be a big mistake, here in Alto’s club, with all these witnesses. There would be no avoiding a war then. I pressed my hand to Cillian’s chest. “Cillian?”

He dragged in a breath, like he’d been holding it.

Vince inclined his head, then took another step back, careful not to look at me as he turned and quickly strode away.

Cillian took my hand, still on his chest, and wrapped it in his, heading for the door. Declan spotted us, and he and Con, who were on the other side of the room, followed.

“What’s going on?” Declan asked as we stepped outside.

“Vince was running his mouth,” Cillian said. “I’m taking Sophia home. It’s probably best you and Con stay.”

Declan nodded.

Conor strode out with us, searching the streets as we walked to a waiting car. Cillian opened the car door and ushered me in, then followed.

Another of Cillian’s men, Danny, was in the driver seat, and he pulled out onto the street.

Cillian sat there like stone, those scarred and tattooed hands fisted so tight on his knees that his knuckles were white.

I looked over at him but remained silent. I wasn’t afraid, even with the wild energy radiating from him now. I don’t know what had changed, and I’m sure it was dangerous to let my guard down around him, to trust him, but since forcing me to marry him, he’d done nothing to hurt me.

I thought of the things Seamus had said, the horrific way he’d treated Cillian when he was just a child. No wonder he was the way he was. I really wanted to keep hating him, after all the things he’d done, but he’d gone out of his way to make me comfortable. He’d gotten my things, made room for me in his house. He’d been patient with me when I knew a lot of other men in his position wouldn’t have been. There was more to him than he let most people see, and I realized I wanted to understand this man. He’d been shaped by a monster, but the real Cillian was under there, and tonight he’d given me a glimpse of him, I was sure of it, and I wanted him to show me more. I wanted to know who he truly was.

Yes, I should hate him, but maybe if I could get to know him, get through to him, he’d let me go, he’d release me from this insane arranged marriage.

I studied him as, jaw still tight, he uncurled his fingers and started twisting the wide wedding band I’d put on his finger. He seemed to do that often. I covered his hand with mine. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t move for several seconds, then he turned to me, staring down at me for what felt like forever, a look on his face I’d never seen on him before and had no hope of reading. I wanted to squirm under that look.

He moved suddenly, hitting a button on the door, and a blackout screen slid up between us and Danny.

“Cillian?”

“No one’s ever asked me that before,” he said in an odd voice.

I blinked up at him, confused. “No one’s ever asked you if you’re okay?”

He shook his head, then he grabbed my legs, sliding me around on the leather seats. I shrieked, but he was already down on the floor, kneeling there. He shoved up my dress and gripped my underwear in his fists, the sound of them tearing came next, a moment before he threw my legs over his shoulders, grabbed my butt, and covered my pussy with his mouth.

I cried out, arching against the seat. He gripped my ass tighter in his strong hands and feasted on me like a man starved. His eyelids fluttered as he slid his tongue over me, teasing my clit, sucking on it gently, making me tremble. I thrust my fingers in his hair, my mind in a whirl, trying to catch up as my hips lifted on their own, seeking more. We may not know how to communicate, like at all, but what we did at night, in the dark of his room, came easy.

Now when I went to bed, I’d lie awake, waiting for him. I anticipated the way his arms would come around me and pull me up against him, the way he’d manhandle me where he wanted me, the dirty praise he’d rasp into my ear while he made me feel so incredibly good.

He lifted his head, spread me wider, and then spit on my pussy before plunging his fingers deep inside me, giving it to me in a way he knew I loved, the way that had me losing all control. His eyes locked on mine as he plundered me, fast and hard. The coil in my lower belly swirled in a way I knew well.

“Cillian, no, slow down…I’m going to…” My stomach trembled and my thighs shook. The muscles inside me contracted hard. I groaned.

His gaze sharpened and he didn’t let up, knowing exactly what he was doing to me. “Let go, pet. Give me what I want.”

---